mike rousseau Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 (edited) Good evening everyone Well yesterday I caught a fish that has meant more to me than nearly any other fish I have ever caught No it's not a giant walleye... or giant carp... or giant musky... well it's a musky... but no giant It was a small thirty-something inch musky But here is why it's so special I have been going to the Ottawa river every year for the past 5 years or so... yesterday was trip 8 or 9 up there Every trip up there I would have several musky follow and even a missed strike here and there but could never put one in the boat I like to think I'm a half decent musky fisherman as I catch them regularly on several other rivers Eventually I got it in my head that I was cursed... I saw em every day... I would leave spots and guys would go and catch behind me... I'd leave spots and see John Anderson (awesome guide) hit it after me... etc... etc... July I'm on a weekend swing and have Wednesday and Thursday off all month so I set my eyes on going to the Ottawa every week while it is quiet mid week to break the curse Yesterday about 6 hours into our day a hot little musky charged my cowgirl and to my surprise this one actually went into the figure 8 and it was HOT HOT HOT!!! On the second lap around it hit and I missed... I was absolutely gutted cause I thought it was over... to my surprise it kept going and hit again on the 4th lap around the figure 8 and I got the hooks in My partner had never seen a figure 8 strike and I only have a couple under my belt as well so we both went crazy I was yelling "get the net... the curse is broken!!!" That's when I realized my partner couldn't figure out my folding net Again I was gutted thinking I was gunna lose the fish that took 5 years to catch In the end we got it in the bag and the curse is finally broken Now keep in mind I've caught musky up to 56 inches before but this little thirty-something fish is one of the most exciting... memorable... and hard earned fish of my life and I don't think I'll ever forget it Edited July 15, 2017 by Mike Rousseau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaf4 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Nice colours and sweet story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave524 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Looks longer than thirty something to me or you have long arms, now that you broke the ice they will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeslayer Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Congrats Mike!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spincast Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 congrats - nothing like beating that skunk finally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Great job Mike!!!! Sure looks bigger to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallie Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Nice fish mike! Always feels good to beat a skunk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick14 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 That doesn't look like a 30 something, unless u mean 39+ Nice fish , way to go. I feel that way when I catch a 3 lb bass in some rivers around my cottage that I stumble across. I Get Very happy! Good job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Roelofsen Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 (edited) What a way to break the curse! we'll all vouch if you call her an even 40" Good looking fish... Josh Edited July 15, 2017 by J Roelofsen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattletrap2 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Congrats and thanks for sharing the story with us! Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEye Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Nice fish Mike!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dontcryformejanhrdina Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Now the floodgates open! Persistence pays off, nice to see ya get the monkey off your back Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Ironmaker Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 (edited) Wowza Mike Wowza. You need a new tape measure, yours has stretched. That's no 30, 39 maybe, maybe even more. It looks as big as the 49 I caught (insert winky yellow thing here) I saw a 29" Pic last week, that fish is 10" longer, at least. I don't Musky fish but from watching all the shows and talking to those that do go for them Crocs no one has ever told me nor have I ever seen one hit a figure 8, ever. edit: tried the 8 thing on a Smallie follower once and it actually worked. That day they were jumping in the boat. I have a witness. Edited July 15, 2017 by Old Ironmaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Thanks everyone As far as the length goes I guessed high 30s It's a good pic and if it wasn't in the 30s it couldn't have been far into the 40s I don't really measure musky until I think they are high 40s or into the 50s and this little guy didn't stop fighting when it got in the net so I wanted to limit time out of water It rolled and tangled... had to cut all the hooks... I got cut by a tooth as well as rakers... lol This little guy had character Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistaredone Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 5 years!!! Man your stubborn. No better way to break the skunk than a figure 8 Muskie. Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 :clapping: :clapping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outllaw Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 very cool. dedication,time on water . your streak will carry now. itsthe hunt that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Awesome story, good for you Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 5 years!!! Man your stubborn. No better way to break the skunk than a figure 8 Muskie. Congrats I know right Especially cause I can catch musky most days 15 minutes from my house on the St. Lawrence River It was like an itch I had to scratch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 I can relate after this weeks fish. Nice accomplishment Mike Thats a nice one. Size at times, dosent matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizzo Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 Wow you are diligent! 5 years and 8 trips. Glad it paid off in a dink....but next come the big ones. I look forward to seeing those. I fished Nipissing a couple times before my first there...also a 30's...next one on Nipissing? 49. Go get em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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